Media & Entertainment Acquisitions in Ohio
Ohio Media & Entertainment M&A Themes
M&A activity in Ohio’s media and entertainment sector spans publishing, events, and content distribution—ranging from take-private deals to growth investments and bolt-on acquisitions. Across 2015 and more recent years (including 2026, 2025, and 2023–2021), the transactions tend to focus on expanding audiences, content libraries, and event portfolios while scaling distribution.
Deal narratives often connect Ohio-based operators or businesses with national or global platforms. Examples include Seven Stories Press acquiring Two Dollar Radio in Columbus, Vistage Worldwide, Inc. purchasing Smart Business Network (Cleveland), and WTWH Media acquiring digital B2B media assets from Engineering.com.
In distribution and live experiences, Ohio also shows buyer interest in catalog growth and program expansion. Shout! Studios, backed by Oaktree Capital Management, acquired Gravitas Ventures to grow its film and television titles, while Oak View Group made a strategic growth investment in Family Entertainment Holdings for touring and seasonal programs.
What Stands Out
- Ohio deals commonly emphasize audience expansion and content capabilities—through publishing (e.g., Two Dollar Radio, Gardening Know How) or digital B2B media (e.g., Engineering.com).
- Event and community formats appear repeatedly, including acquisition of major consumer show operations (e.g., Marketplace Events acquiring the Cincinnati Travel, Sport & Boat Show; and Clarion Capital Partners acquiring Marketplace Events).
- Distribution scale shows up in acquisitions where buyers add sizable title libraries or expand multi-platform offerings (e.g., Shout! Studios / Gravitas Ventures).
- Strategy themes include continued operations under existing leadership or distinct brand approaches—such as Two Dollar Radio founders staying involved and Shout! Studios operating both companies as distinct brands.
- A range of buyer profiles is present, from media publishers (Seven Stories Press, Future plc, Penguin Random House Audio) to event organizers and media platforms (Vistage, Marketplace Events, WTWH Media).
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March 19, 2026
- Buyer
- Podpage
- Target
- School of Podcasting
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Podpage announced it has acquired the School of Podcasting, a long-running podcast education platform founded in 2005 by Dave Jackson. Podpage plans to expand access by introducing a free tier and by integrating School of Podcasting education more deeply into its creator ecosystem, including redesigned tracks and guest instructors.
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- Buyer
- HOFV Holdings, LLC (affiliate)
- Target
- Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company
- Seller
- Public shareholders
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company completed a previously announced merger with an affiliate of HOFV Holdings, LLC and is now privately owned by HOFV Holdings. The take-private transaction is intended to provide the company greater flexibility to pursue long-term growth and continued investment in its Hall of Fame Village destination operations.
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October 22, 2025
- Buyer
- Vistage Worldwide, Inc.
- Target
- Smart Business Network
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Vistage Worldwide, Inc. has acquired Smart Business Network (SBN), a Cleveland-based media and events company known for its Smart Business publications and Dealmakers conference series. The acquisition expands Vistage's content and events capabilities to better support CEOs and business owners navigating transactions; SBN co-founder Fred Koury will remain to guide the transition as Lee Koury becomes Managing Director.
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August 26, 2025
- Buyer
- Marketplace Events
- Target
- Cincinnati Travel, Sport & Boat Show
- Seller
- Cincinnati Shows, Inc., Renfro Productions
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Marketplace Events has acquired the Cincinnati Travel, Sport & Boat Show from Cincinnati Shows, Inc., a division of Renfro Productions. The long-running consumer show (66 years) will continue to be operated by the Renfro Productions management team led by Kevin Renfro and will next run in January 2026 at the renovated Duke Energy Convention Center.
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April 15, 2025
- Buyer
- Seven Stories Press
- Target
- Two Dollar Radio
- Seller
- Eric Obenauf, Eliza Wood-Obenauf
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
New York City-based Seven Stories Press has acquired Columbus, Ohio–based independent publisher Two Dollar Radio; financial terms were not disclosed and the deal was finalized April 1, 2025. Two Dollar Radio founders Eric Obenauf and Eliza Wood-Obenauf become minority partners while retaining ownership of the Two Dollar Radio Headquarters bookstore; Penguin Random House Distribution Services will handle U.S., Canada and global distribution beginning January 1, 2026.
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April 7, 2025
- Buyer
- Shout! Studios, Oaktree Capital Management
- Target
- Gravitas Ventures
- Seller
- Anthem Sports & Entertainment
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Shout! Studios has acquired independent distributor Gravitas Ventures, adding more than 3,300 film and television titles to its catalogue while operating both companies as distinct brands. The deal — which involved Shout! Studios’ backer Oaktree Capital Management and the former owner Anthem Sports & Entertainment — was announced with financial terms undisclosed and positions Shout! to expand its multi-platform distribution and FAST/channel offerings.
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January 8, 2025
- Buyer
- Clarion Capital Partners
- Target
- Marketplace Events
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Clarion Capital Partners has acquired Marketplace Events, the largest organizer of B2C shows in North America, operating more than 110 shows across the U.S. and Canada and attracting over 2.2 million attendees annually. The transaction (completed from Clarion's Fund IV) was financed in part by PennantPark; Clarion said it will accelerate Marketplace's growth and expand its sport, outdoor and new B2B show offerings.
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- Buyer
- Oak View Group
- Target
- Family Entertainment Holdings
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
Oak View Group (OVG) announced a strategic growth investment in Family Entertainment Holdings (FEH), a diversified live-events holding company behind Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live and Magic of Lights. The partnership will accelerate FEH’s international touring and seasonal programs while enhancing sponsorship and venue partnership capabilities through OVG’s global platform.
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December 8, 2023
- Buyer
- WTWH Media
- Target
- Engineering.com
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
WTWH Media, a Cleveland-based digital-first B2B media and marketing company, has acquired the digital B2B media assets of Engineering.com. The acquisition expands WTWH Media's engineering-focused portfolio and audience reach, and follows WTWH's partnership with Mountaingate Capital to support growth and strategic acquisitions.
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May 15, 2023
- Buyer
- Five Star Parks & Attractions
- Target
- Scene 75
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Addon
Five Star Parks & Attractions has acquired Scene 75, adding all five of Scene 75’s Midwest family entertainment center locations to its portfolio. The deal expands Five Star’s portfolio to 25 family entertainment centers across 12 states and strengthens its position in the FEC market.
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March 23, 2023
- Buyer
- Active Interest Media
- Target
- Kovels, Inc.
- Seller
- Kovels, Inc.
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Active Interest Media (AIM) acquired the assets of Kovels, Inc., the long-running antiques and collectibles publisher and online price-guide. The acquisition combines Kovels with AIM's Antique Trader to create a larger collectibles media offering and expand AIM's content, audience and services for collectors and dealers.
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February 9, 2023
- Buyer
- Future plc
- Target
- Gardening Know How
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Future plc has acquired Gardening Know How, a leading online gardening content publisher, strengthening Future's position in the home interest category and expanding its US audience reach. The acquisition adds Gardening Know How's extensive evergreen gardening content and community (over 16,000 articles and ~180 million annual users) to Future's Home network, enabling greater monetization through Future's technology and SEO capabilities.
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February 1, 2023
- Buyer
- Penguin Random House Audio, Penguin Random House LLC
- Target
- Playaway Products LLC
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Penguin Random House Audio, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, has acquired Playaway Products LLC, a maker of pre-loaded audiobook players and other educational devices. Playaway Products will remain a stand-alone company based in Solon, Ohio, with its CEO reporting to Penguin Random House Audio leadership as the publisher acts as a strategic partner to grow institutional and educational distribution.
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January 26, 2023
- Buyer
- Mountaingate Capital
- Target
- WTWH Media
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Denver-based private equity firm Mountaingate Capital completed an investment in WTWH Media, a Cleveland-based B2B digital media and marketing platform. The transaction establishes WTWH as a Mountaingate platform company to accelerate growth organically and through selective strategic acquisitions.
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January 12, 2023
- Buyer
- Buildout, The Riverside Company
- Target
- Oval Room Group
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Addon
Buildout, a Chicago-based commercial real estate (CRE) software platform backed by The Riverside Company, has acquired Oval Room Group, a national CRE visual media solutions provider. The add-on expands Buildout's marketing capabilities by integrating Oval Room's photography, videography, virtual tours and other visual media services into Buildout's CRE marketing and deal-management platform.
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November 22, 2022
- Buyer
- Ex Populus
- Target
- LAMO
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Ex Populus, a Web3 gaming studio and publisher, has acquired LAMO, a multimedia IP that includes a PC game, augmented reality experiences, and a collectible toy line. The acquisition brings LAMO's IP and development talent into Ex Populus' Web3 ecosystem to expand its gaming portfolio and phygital/Metaverse capabilities.
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August 12, 2022
- Buyer
- Beemok Capital
- Target
- Western & Southern Open
- Seller
- United States Tennis Association (USTA)
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Beemok Capital, the family office of Benjamin W. Navarro, has entered into a definitive agreement and completed the acquisition of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament from the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The purchase expands Beemok's tennis portfolio (which includes the Credit One Charleston Open and regional tennis complexes) and includes plans to invest in the event's long-term growth; Beemok also named Todd Martin Head of Tennis for Beemok Sports.
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November 16, 2021
- Buyer
- RWS Entertainment Group
- Target
- JRA
- Seller
- Keith James
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
RWS Entertainment Group has acquired JRA, a Cincinnati-based attraction design and creative studio, expanding RWS into a full-service provider of design, production, performance and operations for attractions and branded experiences. JRA founder Keith James will remain as President of JRA as the combined company pursues global growth across theme parks, museums, cruise ships, resorts and other venues.
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- Buyer
- Seaport Capital, Gray Television
- Target
- Family Entertainment Holdings, LLC
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
Seaport Capital, alongside Gray Television and a group of investors, provided growth capital to form Family Entertainment Holdings (FEH), a Medina, Ohio–based holding company for live family entertainment brands. The investment will scale FEH’s first two formats — Magic of Lights and Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live — and support geographic expansion and platform growth under CEO Ken Hudgens.
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October 27, 2021
- Buyer
- OpenExchange Inc.
- Target
- Veracast Communications, Inc.
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
OpenExchange Inc., a provider of video-enabled virtual event solutions, announced it will acquire Veracast Communications, a Dublin, Ohio-based webcasting and live streaming provider. The combined business will integrate Veracast’s purpose-built webcast platform with OpenExchange’s conferencing and managed services to expand capabilities and scale virtual event production globally.
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August 20, 2020
- Buyer
- Clair Global
- Target
- Eighth Day Sound Systems, Inc.
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Clair Global (Lititz, PA) has acquired Eighth Day Sound Systems, Inc. (Cleveland, OH). Eighth Day will continue to operate under its brand and management as a stand-alone business within the Clair Global umbrella, enhancing Clair Global's touring support and installation capabilities.
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March 3, 2015
- Buyer
- Emerald Expositions, LLC
- Target
- Healthcare Design (Healthcare Design Conference & Healthcare Design Magazine), Environments For Aging (EFA), Construction SuperConference (CSC)
- Seller
- Vendome Group, LLC
- Industry
- Media & Entertainment
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Emerald Expositions, LLC acquired three design- and event-focused brands — Healthcare Design (conference + magazine), Environments For Aging (EFA), and Construction SuperConference (CSC) — from Vendome Group, LLC. The brands and team (based in Cleveland, Ohio) will join Emerald's Design Group; financial terms were not disclosed and Berkery Noyes represented Vendome.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What types of media and entertainment acquisitions are happening in Ohio?
You’ll see deals across publishing (independent and digital-first), event organizers and show formats, and content distribution (including catalog expansions).
Which Ohio-related transactions involve content publishing or media?
Recent examples include Seven Stories Press acquiring Columbus-based Two Dollar Radio, Future plc acquiring Gardening Know How, and WTWH Media acquiring digital B2B media assets of Engineering.com.
Do these deals usually keep existing management or brand identities?
Several summaries indicate continuity elements—such as founders remaining involved with minority stakes (e.g., Two Dollar Radio) and Shout! Studios operating acquired entities as distinct brands.
Are there notable take-private transactions in Ohio media and entertainment?
Yes. In 2026, HOFV Holdings, LLC (affiliate) took Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company private after a previously announced merger.